The Savannah tribune. [volume] (Savannah [Ga.]) 1876-1960, 1887-09-17
BILL NYE AS A DUELIST.
HE CHALLENGES AN EDITOR IN A
TRULY CHIvALRoUs WAY.


NJ. George W. 1tdd, Editor Cranberry
Palladium.
SIR My attention has just been called
to printed statement made over your
own signature some time ago, in which
you spoke in light and fippaut manner
of my hair. The remark was carefully
worded, but calculated to cast obloquy
and reproach upon me in the eyes of the
public. / have spoken to several friends
\ in relation to it, and they are of one opin-
ION in the matter They unite in saying
that the term ''MeXican hairless humor-
lstN demands challenge, to say nothing
of the statement that s'while on board a
train which was robbed in Nebraska"
succeeded in "concealing my jewe.ry in
my hair until the danger had passed"
For this, sir, beg to state that my adj
dress is No. 231t Rue de Bowery, oppo-
site the Place du Railway Mysterie, and
to ask that you will send me your own
address. / forward this by the hands of
a slow messenger boy, who will bring me
your answer as soon as he gets thoroughly
rested, / need not add that he is my
friend and will act as my second, should
you refuse to retract the statements re-
ferred to- You may also settle with him
for this message and your own.
/ will settle with you.
] hope. sir, that you will excuse any
thing that may seem coarse or brutal in
this challenge, for | desire only to take
iyour life without giving you any Offense,
land l want to be polite like other duel
lists. May ask, therefore, that at your
earliest convenience you will name quiet
place, as free from malaria as possible,
where we may kill each other undis-
turbed
May trouble you also, sir, to select
two as dangerous weapons as possible,
aud also to bring with you the surgeon
who generally sews you up at such times?
The De Nyes have always been a hot
blooded race ever since they left France,
and they can none Of them brook an in
suit or bear to be tramped on.
When first read your singing insult
IN the paper | became delirious with pas
sion, and although | am not related to
the Knickerbockers,. my breath came in
short pants
The De Nyes are pleasant people to
meet, but the man who infuriates one of
them is liable to meander up the fume
!, in an oblique manner. Pardon anything,
sir, in this communication which may
sound harsh or clash with the smooth and
scholarly style of assassination peculiar
to the Code, / desire to meet YOU in
mortal combat, but | want to do it in
polished way, and ! desire to word this
note so that it will read we'll in print,
like other challenges.
have consulted several friends about
the prospect of our meeting in duel at
no distant day, and all of them seem to
be highly gratlfed. 1t affords me great
pleasure to note that go into this thing
with the hearty Endorsement and god
speed of all, without distinction If you
would prefer to wait few weeks, till the
weather is cocler, so that you can lie in
state longer, | will try to muzzle my
wrath, but would advise you not to cross
my trail in the meantime
My second will no doubt inform you
that am an expert and deadly swords
man and will try to convince you that it
will be best not to name the sword. Do
not be too proud to heed his advice. 1t
may save your life-and mine also.
hope you will not treat this challenge
lightly, sir, and try still further to heap
ridicule upon an old and widowed name
by suggesting soft gloves or watermelons
as weapons. Let us meet as gentlemen,
sir-fre and fall down, stagger to our
feet, lean heavily against a tree, mutter
few words in hoarse voice, gasp two
times In rapid succession, put on our
coats and go home
feel almost certain, sir, that you will
treat this note in sighting and jaunty
manner, but | beg that you will not do
So For the sake ofthe Tidds, who were
always plain but father pleasant set of
people, and for the sake of the De Nyes,
whose only fault has been their fondness
for fresh, hot blood, furnished by other
parties; for the sake of all our ancestors,
sir, let me beg of you to assist in making
this duela success.
If have been brutal in the wording of
this challenge, sir, or violated the Code,
or misspelled any words, will you please
have it corrected before you send ito the
printer? / ask this favor of you in all
sincerity and in as courteous manner as
possible, hoping that you will grant it
promptly, and that you will lose no OPP
portunity to do all the good you can
during the next few days.
have arranged all my earthly affairs
with the exception of paying my poll
tax have turned OIL the gas-metor and
am prepared for any accident, though
the police have promised to come in and
arrest as at any time we may agree upon.
In closing, sir allow me to express the
hope that you viii surely be at the duel
and that you will bring your dinner.
My second win offer you the choice of